Pelargonium plant named &#39;CAROLINE&#39;S CITRINE&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Pelargonium  cultivar named ‘CAROLINE&#39;S CITRINE’ is disclosed, characterized by unique bright golden foliage with a green blotch in the center. The new variety is a  Pelargonium,  typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Pelargonium cordifolium

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of chance discovery. The new variety originated as a naturally occurring mutation of an unpatented, unnamed variety of Pelargonium cordifolium.

The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Lance Reiners, a citizen of the United States, on Aug. 13, 2009 in the home garden of the inventor in Santa Cruz, Calif. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidential testing and propagation of ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ for approximately 2 years, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ was first performed at a commercial nursery in Watsonville, Calif. by vegetative cuttings in March of 2010. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a locked greenhouse not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings, multiple generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ as a new and distinct Pelargonium cultivar:

-   1. Dramatic and unique bright golden to chartreuse foliage color. -   2. Green markings in center of leaves.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ are similar to the parent, Pelargonium cordifolium in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, is a slower growing plant that matures to a smaller size and produces less flowers, compared to the parent. Additionally, ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ produces foliage that is bright golden to light chartreuse with a green center blotch, compared to the parent's solid green foliage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the variety Pelargonium cordifolium ‘Donn's Goldstrike’, filed concurrently with this application, application number unassigned. The two varieties differ in foliage coloration. Whereas plants of ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ have foliage with a green blotch in the center, ‘Donn's Goldstrike’ has foliage which is entirely bright yellow-green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ grown in a greenhouse in Watsonville, Calif. This plant is approximately 4 months old, shown planted in a 1 quart container. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of the flowers of ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Watsonville, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 20° C. at night to 10° C. to 35° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium cordifolium ‘CAROLINE'S     CITRINE’ -   Propagation: -   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 15 days at approximately     25° C. soil temperature. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous. Color near Orange-White 158D -   Plant: -   Growth habit: Upright tender perennial. -   Height: Approximately 12 cm to top of foliar plane. 15 cm to highest     flower. -   Plant spread: Approximately 29 cm -   Pot size of plant described: Commercial 1 quart -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Moderate branching after a pinch. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 7 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.6 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 4 -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Round.         -   Color.—Near RHS Grey-Brown 199C.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong. -   Internode length: Average 0.7 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 3 months. -   Foliage: -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average length (excluding petiole).—Approximately 6.0 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 6.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Deltoid.         -   Aspect.—Flat to somewhat upwardly curled.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture of top surface.—Pubescent, soft, velvety.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Pubescent, soft.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 154A,             center near Yellow-Green 144A. Thin margin color or             Red-Purple 59B. Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green             145D, small center blotch Green 137B. Thin margin color of             Red-Purple 59B. Mature foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green             154D, center near Green 143A, Green 137B also present. Thin             margin color of Red-Purple 59A. Mature foliage under side:             Near Yellow-Green 145D, small center blotch Green 137C. Thin             margin color or Red-Purple 59A. -   Venation:     -   -   Type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation coloration upper side.—Near Green 137B.         -   Venation coloration under side.—Near Green 138A. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Average 3.6 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.25 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.         -   Strength.—Very strong.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Inflorescence: -   Flower: -   Natural flowering season: Spring through Summer -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single occurring flowers     arranged in umbels emerging from leaf axils. -   Rate of flower opening: 7 to 10 days from bud to fully opened     flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: About 5 to 7 days -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151A.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Umbel size:     -   -   Diameter.—8.0 cm.         -   Height.—7.9 cm. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—3.9 cm.         -   Length.—3.0 cm. -   Corolla/petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate.         -   Petal quantity.—2 large petals, 3 small petals.         -   Large petals.—Length: 3.5 cm. Width: 1.4 cm.         -   Small petals.—Length: 2.6 cm. Width: 0.3 cm. -   Large petal description:     -   -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Apex.—Obtuse, 2 lobes.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Slight downward reflex.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72B             toward apex, becoming Red-Purple N74C at base. Stripes near             RHS Purple N79B Lower surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72B             toward apex, becoming Red-Purple N74C at base. Stripes near             RHS Purple N79B Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS             Red-Purple 72B toward apex, becoming Red-Purple N74C at             base. Stripes near RHS Purple N79B Lower surface: Near RHS             Red-Purple 72B toward apex, becoming Red-Purple N74C at             base. Stripes near RHS Purple N79B Ageing: Upper surface:             Near RHS Red-Purple N74C. Stripes near RHS Purple N79B Lower             surface: Near RHS Purple 76C. Stripes near RHS Greyed-Purple             N186D. -   Small petal description:     -   -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance.—Very shiny.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple 75C             Lower surface: Near RHS Purple 75D Fully opened: Upper             surface: Near RHS Purple 75C Lower surface: Near RHS Purple             75D Ageing: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple 75C Lower             surface: Near RHS Purple 75D. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Narrow deltoid.         -   Length.—2.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Pubescent, velvety.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B, apex             Yellow-Green 155A Lower Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 155A,             base Red-Purple 60B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Average 1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Orientation.—Approximately 75 degree angle from leaf axil. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Average 1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green N144C, very heavily flushed             with Greyed-Purple 187C.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Orientation.—Approximately 15 degree angle from peduncle. -   Fragrance: None observed. -   Reproductive organs: -   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 7.         -   Filament length.—Approximately Range between 1 to 2 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 64A.         -   Pollen.—Moderate, colored near RHS Greyed-Orange N170A. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 1.6 cm. Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 72B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: 5 parted linear Color: Near RHS Red-Purple             71A.         -   Ovary.—Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C Ovary length:             Approximately 0.4 cm. -   Other characteristics: -   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the     normal diseases and pests of Pelargonium has been observed. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar can tolerate     cold temperatures to approximately −1° C. and tolerates an upper     temperature range to at least 38° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘CAROLINE'S CITRINE’ as herein illustrated and described. 